Pet toothbrush

ABSTRACT

A toothbrush comprising a brush head having a plurality of nano-bristles. In one embodiment, the plurality of nano-bristles each have a length, and a diameter of at least a portion of the length is in a range of 50 microns to 150 microns. In another embodiment, the nano-bristles have a base portion and a top portion, with the base portion of the nano-bristles having a diameter in a range of 400 microns to 500 microns and the top portion of the nano-bristles have a diameter in a range of 50 microns to 150 microns.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This U.S. non-provisional patent application claims the benefit of thefiling date of U.S. Provisional Pat. Application Serial No. 63/263,164,filed Oct. 28, 2021, the entire disclosure of which is incorporatedherein by reference.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to toothbrushes, and more particularlytoothbrushes that comprise nanofibers, to support the oral hygiene ofpets.

BACKGROUND

The oral hygiene of pets remains an on-going issue for development.Efforts include the use of non-edible or edible type chews that aredesigned to provide some level of abrasion to the teeth to remove plaqueand improve the health of the gums. Other efforts have simply reliedupon the use of human toothbrushes, along with a toothpaste compositionthat is relatively appealing to the animal. Accordingly, a need remainsto improve the oral hygiene of pets via the design and use of a pettoothbrush that is particularly suitable for the dental requirements ofan animal, and in particular domestic pets, such as dogs or cats.

SUMMARY

A toothbrush comprising a brush head having a plurality ofnano-bristles; wherein the plurality of nano-bristles each have alength, and a diameter of at least a portion of the length is in a rangeof 50 microns to 150 microns.

In at least one embodiment, the plurality of nano-bristles are eachinfused or coated with an additive to reduce plaque and/or bacteria.

In at least one embodiment, the additive of each nano-bristle of theplurality of nano-bristles is present at a level of 0.1 % by weight to10.0 % by weight of each of the nano-bristles of the plurality ofnano-bristles, respectively.

In at least one embodiment, the plurality of nano-bristles are eachinfused or coated with at least one of sodium hexametaphosphate,ascorbic acid, and beta glucan.

In at least one embodiment, the plurality of nano-bristles are eachinfused or coated with chitosan.

In at least one embodiment, the plurality of nano-bristles are in arange of 5,000 to 15,000 nano-bristles.

In at least one embodiment, the plurality of nano-bristles have a lengthof less than or equal to 1.5 cm.

In at least one embodiment, the plurality of nano-bristles define anouter perimeter region and an inner region surrounded by the outerperimeter region; and wherein the length of the nano-bristles of theouter perimeter region is shorter than the length than the nano-bristlesof the inner region.

In at least one embodiment, the plurality of nano-bristles define anouter perimeter region and an inner region surrounded by the outerperimeter region; and wherein the diameter of at least a portion of thelength of the nano-bristles of the outer perimeter region is in a rangeof 100 microns to 150 microns; and wherein the diameter of at least aportion of the length of the nano-bristles of the inner region is in arange of 50 microns to less than 100 microns.

In at least one embodiment, the nano-bristles of the outer perimeterregion form a complete loop around the nano-bristles of the innerregion.

In at least one embodiment, the diameter of at least 25% of the lengthof the plurality of nano-bristles in the range of 50 microns to 150microns.

In at least one embodiment, the plurality of nano-bristles are coloredwith a colorant which fades with use of the toothbrush; and wherein thecolorant fades with a reduction in an antibacterial and/or ananti-fungal treatment provided by the nano-bristles.

In at least one embodiment, the plurality of nano-bristles are formed ofa polymeric composition.

In at least one embodiment, the polymeric composition comprises at leastone of polyamide, polyethylene, poly(butylene terephthalate),poly(ethylene terephthalate) and polyurethane.

In at least one embodiment, the brush head further comprises an abrasivesurface having a plurality of protrusions of a side of the brush headopposite a side having the plurality of nano-bristles.

In at least one embodiment, the toothbrush comprises an elongated handleto hold the toothbrush; and wherein the elongated handle and the brushhead are formed as a single-piece.

In at least one embodiment, the toothbrush is in the form of afinger-cap brush configured to be disposed on a finger of a user.

In at least one embodiment, the finger-cap brush comprises a fingercavity to configured to receive the finger of the user therein to holdthe toothbrush.

In at least one embodiment, the plurality of nano-bristles extendsubstantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the finger-capbrush.

A toothbrush comprising a brush head having a plurality ofnano-bristles; wherein the nano-bristles have a base portion and a topportion; wherein the base portion of the nano-bristles have a diameterin a range of 400 microns to 500 microns; and wherein the top portion ofthe nano-bristles have a diameter in a range of 50 microns to 150microns.

A toothbrush comprising a brush head including a plurality ofnano-bristles projecting from the brush head, wherein the nano-bristleshave a diameter in the range of 50 microns to 150 microns. Optionally,the nano-bristles are infused or coated with an additive that reducesplaque and/or bacteria.

A toothbrush comprising a brush head including a plurality ofnano-bristles projecting from the brush head, wherein the nano-bristleshave a base portion and a top portion, having a diameter in the range of400 microns to 500 microns at the base portion and a diameter of 50microns to 150 microns at the top portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description below may be better understood with referenceto the accompanying figures which are provided for illustrative purposesand are not to be considered as limiting any aspect of the disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a perspective side view of an embodiment of a pet toothbrushhaving nano-bristles according to the present disclosure, with thetoothbrush comprising an elongated handle;

FIG. 2 is a close-up perspective side view of a head portion of the pettoothbrush of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 is a side view of another embodiment of a pet toothbrush havingnano-bristles according to the present disclosure, with the toothbrushcomprising a finger cap brush;

FIG. 4 is another side view of the pet toothbrush of FIG. 3 ;

FIG. 5 is a side view of an embodiment of an alternative bristleaccording to the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a top end view looking downwardly at nano-bristles of anembodiment of a pet toothbrush according to the present disclosure,illustrating the nano-bristles having different diameters; and

FIG. 7 is a cross-section of the bristles of FIG. 6 taken along line7-7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It may be appreciated that the present disclosure is not limited in itsapplication to the details of construction and the arrangement ofcomponents set forth in the following description or illustrated in thedrawings. The embodiments herein may be capable of other embodiments andof being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it maybe appreciated that the phraseology and terminology used herein is forthe purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

Turning now to the figures, FIG. 1 is a perspective side view of aconfiguration of a pet toothbrush 10 according to the presentdisclosure. As can be observed, the pet toothbrush 10 includes anelongated handle portion 12 and a head portion 14 joined to the handleportion (formed as a single piece), with bristles 16 extending from ahead portion 14.

In addition, as best shown in FIG. 2 , preferably on a side of the headportion 14 opposite a side of the bristles 16, the toothbrush 10 maypreferably include an abrasive surface 22. Such abrasive surface 22preferably comprises a plurality of spaced-apart projections 24 having aheight in a range of 0.1 mm to 1.0 mm and a diameter in a range of 0.5mm to 1.5 mm and spaced apart at a distance of 0.1 mm to 1.0 mm. Morepreferably, the height may be in a range of 0.4 mm to 0.6 mm, thediameter may be in a range of 0.8 mm to 1.2 mm and the projections maybe spaced apart a distance of 0.4 mm to 0.6 mm.

Although FIGS. 1 and 2 show one configuration of the toothbrush 10according to the present disclosure, it is contemplated that thetoothbrush 10 herein may be in the form of a finger-cap brush configuredto be disposed on and over a distal end of a finger of a human user. Ashown in FIGS. 3 and 4 , a consumer/user may insert a distal portion oftheir index (pointer) finger into a tubular finger cavity 42 of a hollowcup body 40, comprising a tapering tube/tubular wall (similar to athimble), to hold the toothbrush 10. The bristles 16 may be attached toa distal end region of an upper/outer head portion 44 of the hollow cupbody 40, particularly by being disposed in and extending from anelongated recess 46, which has a longitudinal length which extendssubstantially parallel (e.g. within 10 degrees of being parallel andinclusive of parallel) with a longitudinal axis L-L of the toothbrush10. As also show, a length of the bristles 16 extend substantiallyperpendicular (e.g. within 10 degrees of being perpendicular andinclusive of perpendicular) with a longitudinal axis L-L of thetoothbrush 10. The hollow cup body 40, comprising the taperingtube/tubular wall, may have an outer diameter 50 in a range of 15 mm to35 mm, and an inner (cavity) diameter 52 in a range of 10 mm to 32 mm.The hollow cup body 40 may have a longitudinal length 54 in a range of20 mm to 75 mm.

For the various embodiments of pet toothbrushes 10 disclosed herein, thebristles 16 herein are preferably nano-bristles. More particularly, thebristles 16 have a diameter of at least a portion of their length, andmore particularly the full working length, in the range of 50 microns to150 microns, and more preferably 50 microns to 100 microns. As shown inFIG. 5 , the bristles 16 may also preferably be tapered, meaning thatthe diameter D_(B) may begin at 400 microns to 500 microns at their baseportion 19 where they are attached to the head 16 and then taper to areduced diameter D_(T) at their top portion 21 where they are designedto come in contact with the teeth or gums of the pet. Accordingly, thenano-bristles 16 may therefore have a diameter of 400 microns to 500microns at their base and then taper to a diameter in the range of 50microns to 150 microns.

Preferably, the head portion includes 5,000 to 15,000 nano-bristles 16,more preferably 8,000 to 12,000 nano-bristles 16. In one particularlypreferred embodiment, the head portion contains 9,500 to 10,500nano-bristles 16. The nano-bristles 16 may preferably be made from apolymeric material composition, such as nylon (polyamides),polyethylene, poly(butylene terephthalate), poly(ethyleneterephthalate), and/or polyurethane.

The nano-bristles 16 are preferably coated or infused with additivesthat are particularly useful for improving the oral hygiene of theanimal and reducing plaque that harbors bacteria. For example, thenano-bristles 16 herein may preferably have a coating or be infused with0.1 % by weight to 10.0 % by weight of an additive, such as sodiumhexametaphosphate, ascorbic acid, or a beta glucan. The beta glucan maybe extracted from a natural or genetically modified source, such asyeasts, mushrooms, or saccharomyces cerevisiae. In addition, it iscontemplated herein that the nano-bristles 16 may be coated or infusedwith chitosan, which is reference to the polysaccharide composed mainly(at least 50% or more) of randomly distributed β-(1→4)-linkedD-glucosamine (deacetylated unit) and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (acetylatedunit). It is contemplated that the chitosan will be particularlyeffective to gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria, as well asactivity to fungi.

Additionally, the nano-bristles 16 herein may optionally be colored. Forexample, when the nano-bristles 16 herein are preferably coated orimpregnated with chitosan and a colorant, or sodium hexametaphosphateand a colorant, consumers/users will be alerted as to when the chitosanand/or sodium hexametaphosphate has been fully utilized, as the colorantfades or is completely eliminated follow brushing of a pet’s teeth orgums. The consumer/user is then aware that the antibacterial and/oranti-fungal treatment provided by the nano-bristles 16 is reduced or nolonger present.

Referring now to FIG. 6 , such is a top end view looking downwardly atthe nano-bristles 16 (of the pet toothbrush head 14 of FIGS. 1- 2 orFIGS. 3-4 ) illustrating the use of nano-bristles 16 of differentdiameters. That is, the nano-bristles 16 may include an outer perimeterregion 60 having a width of 1.0 to 6.0 mm, that includes nano-bristles16 having a diameter in the range of 100 microns to 150 microns. Thenano-bristles 16 may then preferably include an inner region 62surrounded by the outer perimeter region 60 having a width of 8.0 to13.0 mm, that includes nano-bristles 16 having a diameter in the rangeof 50 microns to less than 100 microns, and more preferably, 70 micronsto 90 microns. As shown, the outer perimeter region 60 completelysurrounds the inner region 62, i.e. forms a complete 360 degree loop.

The nano-bristles 16 preferably have an exposed working length 18 (whichextend/project from the surface 17 of a bristle mounting region 15 ofthe head 14/44) of 2. 0 cm or less, and more particularly 1.5 cm orless. More preferably, the nano-bristles 16 extend a distance of 0.5 cmto 1.3 cm. In addition, the nano-bristles 16 that are located in outerperimeter region 60 preferably have a height (exposed length 18) that isless than the height (exposed length 18) of the nano-bristles 16 thatare located in the inner region 62. For example, the height (exposedlength 18) of the nano-bristles 16 located on the outer perimeter region60 may be in the range of 0.8 cm to 1.1 cm and the height (exposedlength 18) of the nano-bristles 16 located in the inner region 62 may bein the range of 1.1 cm to 1.2 cm, with the provision that with respectto such ranges, the height (exposed length 18) of the nano-bristles 16located on the outer perimeter region 60 of the toothbrush 10 are lessthan the height (exposed length 18) of the nano-bristles 16 located onthe inner 62 region. For example, as shown in FIG. 7 , relativelyshorter nano-bristles 16 may be present at region 60 in FIG. 6 , whichis on the outside of the nano-bristles 14 and relatively longer bristlesin the inner region 22. Also, for example, the nano-bristles 16 locatedin the outer perimeter region 60 may have a height (exposed length 18)which is in a range of 0.1 mm to 0.4 mm, and more preferably 0.1 mm to0.3 mm, less than the height (exposed length 18) of the nano-bristles 16located on the inner 62 region.

In certain embodiments, at least 25% of length 18 of the nano-bristles16 have a diameter in the range of 50 microns to 150 microns, and morepreferably 50 microns to 100 microns. In other embodiments, at least 50%of length 18 of the nano-bristles 16 have a diameter in the range of 50microns to 150 microns, and more preferably 50 microns to 100 microns.In other embodiments, at least 75% of length 18 of the nano-bristles 16have a diameter in the range of 50 microns to 150 microns, and morepreferably 50 microns to 100 microns. In other embodiments, 100% oflength 18 of the nano-bristles 16 have a diameter in the range of 50microns to 150 microns, and more preferably 50 microns to 100 microns.

While particular embodiments of the present invention has beendescribed, it should be understood that various changes, adaptations andmodifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit ofthe invention and the scope of the appended claims. The scope of theinvention should, therefore, be determined not with reference to theabove description, but instead should be determined with reference tothe appended claims along with their full scope of equivalents.Furthermore, it should be understood that the appended claims do notnecessarily comprise the broadest scope of the invention which theApplicant is entitled to claim, or the only manner(s) in which theinvention may be claimed, or that all recited features are necessary.

Listing of reference characters

10 pet toothbrush 12 handle portion 14 head portion 15 bristle mountingregion 17 mounting surface 16 bristles 18 bristle length 19 base portion21 top portion 22 abrasive surface 24 protrusions 40 cup body 42 fingercavity 44 upper/outer head portion 46 elongated recess 50 outer diameter52 inner diameter 54 longitudinal length 60 outer perimeter region 62inner region L longitudinal axis D_(B) diameter base D_(T) diameter top

What is claimed:
 1. A toothbrush comprising: a brush head having aplurality of nano-bristles; wherein the plurality of nano-bristles eachhave a length, and a diameter of at least a portion of the length is ina range of 50 microns to 150 microns.
 2. The toothbrush of claim 1,wherein: the plurality of nano-bristles are each infused or coated withan additive to reduce plaque and/or bacteria.
 3. The toothbrush of claim2, wherein: the additive of each nano-bristle of the plurality ofnano-bristles is present at a level of 0.1 % by weight to 10.0 % byweight of each of the nano-bristles of the plurality of nano-bristles,respectively.
 4. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein: the plurality ofnano-bristles are each infused or coated with at least one of sodiumhexametaphosphate, ascorbic acid, and beta glucan.
 5. The toothbrush ofclaim 1, wherein: the plurality of nano-bristles are each infused orcoated with chitosan.
 6. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein: theplurality of nano-bristles are in a range of 5,000 to 15,000nano-bristles.
 7. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein: the plurality ofnano-bristles have a length of less than or equal to 1.5 cm.
 8. Thetoothbrush of claim 1, wherein: the plurality of nano-bristles define anouter perimeter region and an inner region surrounded by the outerperimeter region; and wherein the length of the nano-bristles of theouter perimeter region is shorter than the length than the nano-bristlesof the inner region.
 9. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein: theplurality of nano-bristles define an outer perimeter region and an innerregion surrounded by the outer perimeter region; and wherein thediameter of at least a portion of the length of the nano-bristles of theouter perimeter region is in a range of 100 microns to 150 microns; andwherein the diameter of at least a portion of the length of thenano-bristles of the inner region is in a range of 50 microns to lessthan 100 microns.
 10. The toothbrush of claim 9, wherein: thenano-bristles of the outer perimeter region form a complete loop aroundthe nano-bristles of the inner region.
 11. The toothbrush of claim 1,wherein: the diameter of at least 25% of the length of the plurality ofnano-bristles in the range of 50 microns to 150 microns.
 12. Thetoothbrush of claim 1, wherein: the plurality of nano-bristles arecolored with a colorant which fades with use of the toothbrush; andwherein the colorant fades with a reduction in an anti-bacterial and/oran anti-fungal treatment provided by the nano-bristles.
 13. Thetoothbrush of claim 1, wherein: the plurality of nano-bristles areformed of a polymeric composition.
 14. The toothbrush of claim 13,wherein: the polymeric composition comprises at least one of polyamide,polyethylene, poly(butylene terephthalate), poly(ethylene terephthalate)and polyurethane.
 15. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein: the brush headfurther comprises an abrasive surface having a plurality of protrusionsof a side of the brush head opposite a side having the plurality ofnano-bristles.
 16. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein: the toothbrushcomprises an elongated handle to hold the toothbrush; and wherein theelongated handle and the brush head are formed as a single-piece. 17.The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein: the toothbrush is in the form of afinger-cap brush configured to be disposed on a finger of a user. 18.The toothbrush of claim 17, wherein: the finger-cap brush comprises afinger cavity to configured to receive the finger of the user therein tohold the toothbrush.
 19. The toothbrush of claim 18, wherein: theplurality of nano-bristles extend substantially perpendicular to alongitudinal axis of the finger-cap brush.
 20. A toothbrush comprising:a brush head having a plurality of nano-bristles; wherein thenano-bristles have a base portion and a top portion; wherein the baseportion of the nano-bristles have a diameter in a range of 400 micronsto 500 microns; and wherein the top portion of the nano-bristles have adiameter in a range of 50 microns to 150 microns.